Gringos (Mexican) – Shepherd’s Bush

THIS RESTAURANT HAS SINCE CLOSED

Gringos in Shepherd’s Bush is a Mexican fast food eatery that’s spacious, clean, airy, well lit and fully Halal.

With a capacity of 42, this fully Halal restaurant has a set up similar to the sandwich franchise Subways.

As such, a quick bite couldn’t be easier. The concept essentially revolves around the choice of either a Burrito or a Taco, where one is required to build with the following options:

1. Rice: Tomoto and/or Coriander
2. Beans: Black and/or Pinto
3. Main: Maxican Chicken, Peri Peri Chicken, Steak, Fajita Vegetables
4. Fillings: Tomato Salsa, Corn Salsa Cheese, Lettuce Olives, Jalapenos, Guacamole
5. Sauces: Garlic Mayo, Chipotle, Hot Chilli, Sweet Chilli, and BBQ

With extra of anything added for an additional 70p, the idea appeared to us to be unique and appetising.

Peanut Butter & Nutella, Bubblegum – £3.95 each

They certainly know how to make good shakes.

These were, indeed, premium with the Peanut Butter & Nutella well balanced, and the Bubblegum, equally thick and luscious, on the right side of sweet, and thus addictive.

Nachos £2.50

We’ve had nachos at restaurants that are blatantly skimping towards the inferior quality nacho chips. Not here!

Here, the nachos were of good quality – thick and crunchy – and plentiful.

But, given the quantity of nachos, it could have done with more of all the condiments therein.

And the weakest of them was the insipid-tasting sour cream.

The Sauces, in general, were pretty impressive.

The BBQ was extremely good; the Hot Chilli delivering a good kick of heat; and the Chipotle thick and robust and quite delicious. The rest were decent.

Wraps Fajita Vegetables, Steak £4.50

The Fajita Vegetables version had rice, yellow pepper, and was crunchy, with the sweetness of the sauce evident and very good.

The Steak version was pretty good too.

While the beef was soft-textured, tasty and well lubricated by the sweet chipotle sauce, the two types of rice – cleverly separated into two halves – were soft and well cooked, with the coriander coming across drier in texture than its tomato counterpart.

Tacos £4.50

The Peri Peri Chicken version was the weakest of the three, and not, dare we say, very dissimilar to the burrito wrap.

The Beef Taco was far better though. This had pulled beef with chipotle sauce.

As for the Tacos, then these weren’t of the crunchy variety, but rather bread-like in texture. Of the two, we preferred the burritos.

Burrito Bowl £4.50 with Jalapenos Guacamole £5.20

The Burrito Bowl had a good assortment of ingredients making it an interesting eat. With Jalapenos, tomatoes (both red and brown), black olives, rice (both varieties), chicken, cheese, black beans, grated cheese and sweetcorn, all brought together again by the delicious chipotle sauce, this was fresh and vibrant, well balanced, with nothing overpowering anything else, while also being a combination of both hot and cold. We were left impressed and satisfied!